Reflections on Dedication
The one question that’s been driving my consistency lately, and a few prompts for your personal reflection. Plus, a small announcement!
The one question that has been driving my consistency lately (especially in this Substack space) is “where would I be now if I would’ve stuck to that thing?” Whatever that “thing” may be: a half finished service offering, an inconsistent newsletter, a partially written business plan… Initially I embarked on this Substack journey over a year ago, only publishing a few posts last year. And now, as I’ve shown up consistently every week for the past 5 or so weeks, I’ve found myself reflecting on where I would be today if I would have posted every week last year? If I would’ve made that commitment and remained dedicated?
I’ve been viewing this question as more of a rhetorical prompt versus a literal one that demands an answer. Obviously we never know what “would’ve been,” but there is one thing for certain, I’m kind of tired of not finding out. Of not seeing things through enough to be able to answer that question for myself.
It’s important to note that some projects are better left unfinished. Maybe you’re overextended and you need to prioritize other responsibilities. Maybe a project has run its course and you want to move on to another one. Over the past 8 years I’ve started and stopped many projects, some massive undertakings like tech start-ups and a full service creative agency, and other smaller ones, like a newsletter or one-off passion projects. I had no issue pivoting and changing course when things no longer felt in alignment. Some of those decisions were for the best, like stepping away from the tech startup as a mother of two little ones, however, a few others were simply abandoned because I had the freedom to do so.
Lately I’ve been reflecting on instances when I’ve felt a sense of accomplishment, and the common thread I can find throughout them all is dedication. The fact that I continued to show up (even when it was the last thing I wanted to do,) and therefore, on the other end, I was met with meaningful progress. Sometimes the right decision is to pivot, to move onto something more aligned with your current season of life and personal values, however, without consistency and dedication, we may never accomplish the things we most desire.
In case you’ve ever found yourself in a similar place, I’ll pose a few questions for your personal reflection:
When are the moments or projects in your life when you’ve felt most “accomplished” or fulfilled? However you might define “accomplishment.”
What motivated you to show up even when you didn’t feel like it?
I would consider myself a pretty self motivated person. However, over the past few years I’ve noticed I do need a bit of external pressure to remain dedicated. For example, last year I created a multi-sensory print zine as a one-off creative project. I announced the zines publicly, then opened them for preorders, so when people bought them it motivated me to complete the project on a dedicated timeline. What would motivate you to remain consistent? Is it people buying into something you’re thinking of offering? Is it an accountability buddy or co-working group? We’re all unique, so find what would help you show up even when it’s hard!
What is something (however seemingly small) that you can commit to each day/week that will take you closer to achieving the big goals and visions you have for yourself? This could be building your mailing list, establishing a morning routine, or dedicating 30 minutes everyday to craft a new service offering.
I hope this message will resonate and help you on your personal journey to achieving your visions! Overall, I hope this will be a reminder to release some of the pressure that your next choice has to be a perfect one. And a reminder to pick a path, and dedicate yourself to it without letting the self-doubt and overthinking get in your way of making meaningful progress.
As always, thank you for being here!
P.S. A Professional Update
In the spirit of remaining dedicated and following through on my intended actions, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to drop a quick note about a new service suite I’m developing! While it’s the early stages, I have been chipping away on creating three new offerings combining my passion and expertise across branding, experience, travel and hospitality. I plan on officially releasing these services once I’m settled in Paris, but wanted to at least put this small announcement out into the world! Interested in being the first the know more details? Click here (or the button below) to add your info to the list! I’m really excited about this. I finally let go of the “shoulds” and really leaned into what sounds fun (and flexible!) in this season of life. Looking forward to sharing more soon!